System for treating residues resulting from the combustion of a casket containing the body of a deceased person

ABSTRACT

The system comprises:—a device ( 9 ) for sorting residues transported from the outlet of a cremation furnace to an urn, capable of separating the metallic elements and the bone remains;—a device ( 20 ) for grinding the portion of the residues that contain the bone remains without metallic elements, positioned downstream of the sorting device;—a container ( 18 ) for collecting the metallic elements, and an urn ( 23 ) for collecting the ground bone remains. Metal detection means ( 19 ) control the movement of a valve ( 16 ) between a closed position of a window ( 15 ) that opens toward a container ( 18 ) for collecting metallic elements, and a position where the metallic elements may drop through this window.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a system for treating residues resulting from the combustion of a casket containing the body of a deceased person.

BACKGROUND

When a deceased person is incinerated, his or her body is placed in a coffin—or casket—that is introduced into a furnace to be burned. At the end of the cremation, which lasts approximately 2hours, the residues are collected and brought to a receptacle called an ash pit. These residues comprise body remains, i.e., products of the combustion of the body that did not have time to be reduced to ash and therefore assume the form of pieces. These residues also comprise metal elements that come from any prostheses of the deceased (dental and/or joint prostheses), metal parts of the coffin (in particular the handles) and, if applicable, clothing or accessories worn by the deceased during the cremation. These metal elements also assume the form of pieces, which may be partially melted.

Currently, these residues are ground within the crematorium, then placed in an urn that is given to the family.

This has a certain number of drawbacks.

In fact, the ground residues comprise the ashes from the body of the deceased, but also metal shavings, in a non-negligible proportion of up to 40%.

Consequently, the volume of the urn does not make it possible to place all of the residues therein, as a result of which the urn cannot contain all of the ashes resulting from the body of the deceased, which is not desirable.

Thus, the part of the ground residues that cannot be placed in the urn is collected in a container located within the crematorium, that container being regularly emptied by specialized companies to treat those residues. This treatment consists of recovering the metals (precious, semiprecious or non-precious) for subsequent development thereof, and performing a complete combustion of the ground body remains.

However, the recovery of the metals in all of the ground residues is complex and expensive, since the metals are in the form of shavings and difficult to separate from the rest of the ground residues.

Furthermore, the fact that the urn also contains metal shavings is not satisfactory, as those metals cannot be recovered.

Systems for treating residues resulting from the combustion of a coffin containing the body of a deceased person are described in documents EP 0 829 682 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,770,215.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention aims to resolve the aforementioned drawbacks.

To that end, the invention relates to a system for treating residues resulting from the combustion of a casket containing the body of a deceased person, the residues comprising body remains and metal elements, the system comprising:

-   -   a device for sorting residues transported from the outlet of a         cremation furnace to an urn, capable of separating the metallic         elements and the body remains;     -   a device for grinding the portion of the residues that contain         the body remains and is substantially devoid of metallic         elements, said grinding device being positioned downstream of         the sorting device;     -   at least a container for collecting the metallic elements, and         an urn for collecting the ground body remains.

According to a general definition of the invention, the sorting device comprises:

-   -   a valve movable between a first position, in which the valve         covers a window of the sorting device opening toward a container         for collecting the metallic elements, and a second position, in         which said window is freed, the metallic elements then being         able to drop through that window toward said container;     -   means for detecting the metals among the residues moved in the         sorting device, the metal detection means being able to control         the movement of the valve between the two positions thereof.

The terms “upstream” and “downstream” are used in reference to the direction of movement of the residues from their collection at the outlet of the furnace toward the urn.

Thus, the invention provides for separating the metallic elements from the rest of the residues before the grinding step, the method being implemented within the crematorium, and without human intervention.

This makes it possible to sort residues more easily, since the metallic elements are not in the form of shavings, but larger pieces.

Consequently, the residues that are ground are substantially free from metallic elements, and have a much smaller volume than in the prior art. As a result, all the ground residues can be placed in the urn, the latter then containing all of the ashes resulting from the body of the deceased person. Furthermore, the containers in which any excess ground residues would be placed will fill much more slowly. The operations aiming to empty these containers may therefore be done less often.

Furthermore, the invention makes it possible to recover the large majority of the metallic elements, therefore to recycle them almost in their entirety, which is also advantageous in economic and environmental terms.

One considerable advantage of the invention is that it makes it possible to perform a very effective and rapid sort, automatically and not manually, thereby avoiding psychologically difficult and potentially harmful operations for an operator. Furthermore, owing to the metal detection means coupled with the valve, the invention enables excellent recovery of the metals, for subsequent development thereof and for increased environmental respect.

It is specified that the main point, in the chronology of the method, is that the sorting and separating step is done before the grinding step, the collection step not necessarily been done after the sorting and grinding. It is thus possible to collect the metallic elements before the grinding of the residues that contain the body remains.

For example, the sorting step includes a first separation, comprising removing the ferrous metals from the rest of the residues, and a second separation, comprising separating the metals from the rest of the residues. The first separation may be done before the second: in that case, the second separation comprising separating the remaining metallic, therefore nonferrous, elements from the rest of the residues. Alternatively, the second separation may be done before the first: in that case, all of the metals (ferrous and nonferrous) are separated from the rest of the residues, then the magnetic metals are separated from the nonmagnetic metals.

Advantageously, the method provides for a separation of the different components of the residues using vibration, magnetism and gravity phenomena. By combining these three phenomena, the method is particularly effective.

According to one possible embodiment, the sorting device comprises a substantially horizontal conveyor equipped with vibration means capable of causing spreading of the residues in said conveyor.

Furthermore, the sorting device may comprise a substantially vertical column, in which at least part of the residues is made to drop. The conveyor may emerge, downstream, in the upper portion of the column.

The sorting device may comprise separating means including a magnet, for the recovery of the ferrous metals. These separating means are preferably positioned upstream of the metal detection means. However, it is possible to consider an inverse arrangement, and therefore later sorting between ferrous metals and nonferrous metals.

According to one possible embodiment, said separating means including a magnet are positioned above the conveyor.

It is also possible to provide one of the following configurations:

-   -   the metal detection means are positioned on the column and the         window is positioned on a side wall of the column; or     -   the metal detection means are positioned on the conveyor and the         window is positioned on a lower wall of the conveyor or on a         side wall of the column.

According to one possible embodiment, the system comprises a system for cooling the residues upstream of the sorting device. The system for example includes a container, such as an autoclave, associated with means for extracting the air in that container and with cooling means. One alternative solution comprises causing air to enter a container provided with an air outlet orifice that is very small (for example having a diameter of approximately 1/10 of a millimeter). Due to the overpressure of the area thus created, it is possible to lower the temperature in the container to approximately −8° C., which is very effective for cooling of the residues.

Advantageously, it is possible to provide that the sorting device is situated at a height with respect to the urn, such that the sorting and/or grinding step may be done at least partially by gravity, the system then comprising means for bringing the residues upstream of the sorting device arranged to move the residues upward as far as said sorting device. For example, the residues are conveyed from the autoclave, when the latter is provided, which is for example situated at more or less the same height as the urn.

The grinding device may comprise a first grinder, for example with cylinders, designed to perform a first grinding operation of said portion of the residues, and a second grinder, for example with a worm screw, positioned downstream of the first grinder and designed to perform a second, more fine grinding operation of said portion of the residues.

Such a structure of the grinding device makes it possible to reduce the noise level and the quantity of dust generated with respect to the grinding systems traditionally implemented in this field. Furthermore, such an advantageous grinding device can only operate because the metals have been separated from the body remains beforehand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

We will now describe, as a non-limiting example, one possible embodiment of the invention, in reference to the appended figures:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a system for treating residues according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show positioning alternatives of the metal detection means and the valve in the sorting device;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are front and side views of a grinding device belonging to the system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The treatment system 1 according to the invention includes several devices arranged successively—or in parallel—from upstream to downstream, from the outlet of the cremation furnace toward an urn, said devices making it possible to sort and grind residues resulting from the combustion of a coffin containing the body of a deceased person.

When these residues are collected at the outlet of the furnace, they are incandescent and therefore cannot be treated directly. They therefore first undergo a cooling step. To that end, the residues are placed in an autoclave 2 having a cover 3 that can be closed by a push ram 4. A vacuum pump 5 makes it possible to extract a large portion of the air present in the autoclave 2, so as to stop the combustion. A refrigerated unit 6 coupled to a fan 7 then makes it possible to cool the residues quickly. As an example, the residues may go from a temperature of approximately 800° C. to a temperature of approximately 100° C. in about 15 min. Once the residues are cool, air is added to the autoclave 2 and the cover 3 is unlocked.

The residues thus cooled are then conveyed toward the downstream sorting and grinding devices, by intake means that may include a driving chain 8 with cups. The residues are thus moved from the top to the sorting device 9, the latter being situated at a height to take advantage of gravity during treatment of the residues.

The sorting device 9 includes a substantially horizontal conveyor 10, for example assuming the form of a round tube. The residues, conveyed by the cup driving chain 8, are poured into an insertion member 11 of the hopper type, upstream of the conveyor 10.

The conveyor 10 is equipped with a member 12 that vibrates the conveyor 10, and thereby causes spreading of the residues at the bottom and along the conveyor 10, while causing them to advance in the downstream direction.

A magnet 13, preferably positioned above the conveyor 10 and downstream of the vibrating member 12 to act on the spread residues, makes it possible to perform a first sort of the residues, by removing the ferrous metals. These may thus be collected separately in a suitable container (not shown).

The rest of the residues (comprising nonferrous metals and body remains in pieces) continues its progression in the conveyor 10, as far as the upper part of a substantially vertical column 14, in which the conveyor 10 emerges. The remaining residues then drop into the column 14.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the column 14 includes a window 15, situated lower than the downstream end of the conveyor 10, which may be sealed by a moving valve 16. This window 15 emerges via a conduit 17 in a container 18 for collecting nonferrous metals. The column 14 is also equipped with metal detection means 19 of any known type, positioned between the downstream end of the conveyor 10 and the window 15. The residues, during their drop in the column 14, therefore pass in front of these metal detection means 19. When the latter detects the passage of the metal, it commands the movement of the valve 16 from its sealing position of the window 15 toward a position in which said window 15 is freed, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The rest of the residues, which therefore still contain the body remains in the form of pieces but are substantially free of metallic elements, continue to drop in the column 14 as far as a grinding device 20.

The grinding device 20 first comprises a first grinder 21, for example with cylinders, that performs the first grinding operation of said portion of the residues and prevents the system from becoming blocked by relatively large pieces that would become jammed in the column 14. The grinding device 20 also comprises a second grinder 22, for example with a worm screw, positioned downstream—therefore below—of the first grinder 21, which performs a second, more fine grinding operation of said portion of the residues, typically to reduce them to a powder.

Positioned under the column 14 and the grinding device 20 is an urn 23, placed on a holder 24 whereof the height can advantageously be adjusted. The ground body remains are thus collected substantially in their entirety in the urn 23, which may be given to the family.

The height of the column 14 must be adapted to the response time of the device comprising the metal detection means 19 and the valve 16, so as to obtain a good separation of the nonferrous metals and the body remains. As an example, the column 14 may have a height of approximately 2 to 3 m. With this size, it is possible to perform a very satisfactory sort, with less than 5% of body remains collected in the container 18 for collecting the nonferrous metals.

Positioning alternatives of the means for separating the components from the residues are illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

First, the first separating means, i.e., the magnet 13, are no longer placed above the conveyor 10, but laterally with respect thereto, at the drop area of the residues from the hopper 11.

Furthermore, the metal detection means 19 are positioned on the conveyor 10, preferably downstream of the magnet 13.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the window 15 is positioned on a side wall of the column 14, preferably just downstream of the conveyor 10, when the latter emerges in the column 14. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the window 15 is positioned on a lower wall of the conveyor 10, downstream of the metal detection means 19.

Reference will lastly be made to FIGS. 4 and 5, which more precisely show one possible embodiment of the grinding device 20.

The grinding device 20 comprises a first grinder 21 having two cylinders 25 (or rollers) positioned at the same height and rotating around parallel horizontal axes 26, 27 in opposite directions. The bone residues are pre-ground between the two cylinders 25.

A funnel 28 is provided under the first grinder 21 to lead the body remains to the inlet of the second grinder 22, which is a worm screw grinder positioned horizontally. The second grinder 22 is driven by a motor 29, generally an electric motor. The second grinder 22 includes an outlet grate 30 for the body remains reduced to powder and blades or knives 31 allowing the ground body remains to pass through the holes of the grate 30. Lastly, a funnel 32 is provided guiding the passage of the body remains toward the urn 23.

Thus, the invention provides a decisive improvement to the prior technique, by providing a method and a system that are both more satisfactory for the families of the deceased, in that the urn given to them contains all of the ashes resulting from the body, and from an environmental and economic standpoint, in that the metal recovery rate is considerably increased.

The invention is of course not limited to the embodiment described above as an example, but on the contrary encompasses all technical equivalents and alternatives of the described means as well as combinations thereof. 

1. A system for treating residues resulting from combustion of a casket containing a body of a deceased person, the residues comprising body remains and metal elements, the system comprising: a device for sorting residues transported from an outlet of a cremation furnace to an urn, capable of separating the metallic elements and the body remains; a device for grinding a portion of the residues that contain the body remains and is substantially devoid of metallic elements, said grinding device being positioned downstream of the sorting device; at least one container for collecting the metallic elements, and an urn for collecting the ground body remains, wherein the sorting device comprises: a valve movable between a first position, in which the valve covers a window of the sorting device opening toward a container for collecting the metallic elements, and a second position, in which said window is freed, the metallic elements then being able to drop through that window toward said container; means for detecting the metals among the residues moved in the sorting device, the metal detection means being able to control the movement of the valve between the two positions thereof.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sorting device comprises a substantially horizontal conveyor equipped with vibration means capable of causing spreading of the residues in said conveyor.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sorting device comprises a substantially vertical column, in which at least part of the residues is made to drop.
 4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the conveyor emerges, downstream, in the upper portion of the column.
 5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the sorting device comprises separating means including a magnet, for the recovery of the ferrous metals, said separating means preferably being preferably positioned upstream of the metal detection means.
 6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said separating means including a magnet are positioned above the conveyor.
 7. The system according to claim 3, wherein the metal detection means are positioned on the column and the window is positioned on a side wall of the column.
 8. The system according to claim 2, wherein the metal detection means are positioned on the conveyor and the window is positioned on a lower wall of the conveyor or on a side wall of the column.
 9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a system for cooling the residues upstream of the sorting device.
 10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the cooling system for the residues includes a container associated with means for extracting air in the container and with cooling means.
 11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sorting device is situated at a height with respect to the urn, such that the sorting and/or grinding step may be done at least partially by gravity, and wherein the system comprises means for bringing the residues upstream of the sorting device arranged to move the residues upward as far as said sorting device.
 12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the grinding device comprises a first grinder designed to perform a first grinding operation of said portion of the residues, and a second grinder positioned downstream of the first grinder and designed to perform a second, more fine grinding operation of said portion of the residues. 